Scripture:  "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever
believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

"God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son…" This is the most profound
expression of the love of God to all of humankind, the gift of his only begotten Son, Jesus
Christ, to be our Savior.  If we consider who the Giver of this blessing is, we would find that the
text says nothing of emperors, kings, presidents, mayors, or other dignitaries of the world.  But
it speaks of God himself, who is incomprehensible and all-powerful.  It talks about a God who
created everything according to his word, divine will and for his good pleasures.  The text tells us
about a God who has all, preserves all, and is over all.  When we compare this God with all of
creation, heaven and earth, and everything that is in them, we would discover that everything
else other than God and his love, is as insignificant as a grain of sand.

They are insignificant because God is the Almighty.  He is the great giver of every good and
perfect gift.  God is the great "I Am", of all blessings and his gifts, which are so glorious that
the most valued treasure of men, emperors, and kings fade away into nothingness, when
compared with the mercies of God's unlimited love and grace.  The world can't give us anything
greater than what God has given to us, is still giving to us, and will continue giving us now and
for all eternity; and that is his "unconditional love" through the gift of his Son Jesus Christ.  
John states the priority of God's purpose for giving his son to a dying world in John 3:17 "For
God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might
be saved." For this reason God is declared to be the very essence of "Love," through his son,
Jesus Christ.

"Love" is one of the fundamental aspects of God's nature.  His love reaches out to humans, the
creation of God, for whom he feels a parental or fatherly concern.  God loves us like a parent,
but greater than a parent.  His concern is for our eternal destiny.  The Father's desire is that
none should perish, but come unto the knowledge of the truth of Jesus Christ.  His desire is to
save us from our sins through the redemptive work of his son Jesus Christ.

Jesus came to seek and to save that which is lost (Luke 19:10).  He was not born to be
ministered to, but to minister (Matthew 20:28).  Jesus did not come for those who are whole, but
for those who are sick (Luke 5:31), laden in sin, and bound for eternal damnation.  He came not
to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32).  Jesus came to give his life as a
perfect sacrifice and as a ransom for you and for me so that we can be reconciled back to God.  
Jesus came to "…save his people from their sins" (Matthew 1:21).  This is the most profound
expression of the love of God to all of humankind, the gift of his only begotten Son, to be our
Savior.   Jesus Christ is "the reason for the season."

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and
knoweth God" (I John 4:7).

Be Blessed!
Pastor Thelma Gilbert
Pastoral Resource Ministries, Inc.
An Outreach Resource Ministry
A Ministry for the Millennium
"God's Unlimited Love" (Part I1)
Words of Inspiration for the Week of December 14, 2003
To contact
Pastor Thelma Gilbert

For more information write or call us at:
Pastoral Resource Ministries, Inc.
P.O. Box 7232, Bloomfield, CT 06002
Phone (860) 243-2168 - Fax: (860) 242-1838
email: prministrie@snet.net